To all the Xmas time fans...

[Frankiesmom]

Hi to all! We are new members and prior to joining we just visited WDW this Jan. and found the weather and the low crowds very enjoyable. I was debating on doing a trip over Christmas this year;is this something everyone who loves Disney should do at least once? Can someone list the pros/cons for a visit at this time of year? if we go over Xmas this will use our 400 points for the year-UY in Oct.;that would be okay as I'd like to go back in 10/07 for MNSSHP and the food/wine festival. We have 2 trips planned with our 2005 points we received when we joined-a 6 day trip 5/5-5/11 1 br @ BWV just me and DH for our anniversary. And 5 days in Aug. in a 2br with the kids @ HHI. So any advice would be great! Oh;we bought in @ SSR. Thanks in advance! Angel

 

[Figment2]

I love Christmas at WDW and the only cons I can think of are the unpredictable weather and the crowds. I popped down for a quick trip this last Christmas weekend and I was a little worried about the "crowds." I was pleasantly surprised and then subsequently blown away by the crowd situation. I didn't try to get on any of rides or attractions but walking around the parks there was no problem until I went into MK on Christmas morning to pick up some pins. OMG, I could not believe the people going into the park and could not believe the line of cars waiting to get in when I was driving back to BCV. I did hear from friends who live in the area that some rides/attractions had horrendous wait times (1-2/2 hours).

I spent Christmas afternoon in MGM and the evening in EPCOT and both were very manageable but once again I wasn't going on any rides. I did get into CP on Christmas night (with a 45 min wait). To me that was amazing.

I've been there in mid-December when it was 85. This last trip, it was a little cool but not cold to me (even though some CM's wore down coats).

Cyn

 

[Frankiesmom]

Thanks Figment for the reply! Sounds like you had a great time!

 

[CarolMN]

Don't go between Christmas and New Year's Day unless you cannot find a way to go between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. The crowds are so much less and all of the decorations and holiday events/activities are there to enjoy, not to mention the huge difference in the points that are required.

There are several good reasons why early December is so popular with DVC members!

Best wishes -

 

[Nicolepa]

I love going at Christmas time, the lights, the decorations. As long as you leave by the 24th the crowds are still pretty light. This year we will be going the week before Christmas and checking out on the 24th. Then you are not using peak points, crowds are lower etc. We will either fly home to Seattle, or drive down and see family in Ft. Lauderdale (still debating that one).

Being from Seattle the colder weather doesn't bother us. I actually prefer it.

 

[Doctor P]

We are very experienced Xmas time Disney travelers. Three Xmas trips in the last six years, first one December 18-26, 1999, second one December 27, 2001-January 2, 2002, last one December 23, 2005-January 1, 2006. We had a blast on all three trips, but it takes planning and patience and realistic expectations to be satisfied. First of all, take as many opportunities to "smell the roses" as you can--it is a hectic time and you need to make an affirmative effort to slow your pace so as to not burn out or get overly stressed. Second, expect crowds like you have never experienced on the major holidays (Christmas and New Years' Day in particular). Third, if you go to a park on Christmas or New Year's Eve, get there as early as you can and commando the park for 90 minutes to four hours after you get there. Always have a back-up plan for seeing things and implement it quickly. We got to MK on NYE at about 7:15 am. We immediately headed for Fantasyland (Adventureland and Frontierland were not open during EME) and in the space of less than one hour we did Peter Pan, Snow White, and Philharmagic. We then immediately headed for Frontierland, but BTM was closed, so we headed to Adventureland and walked on at POC, Jungle Cruise, and Aladdin. While the family rode Aladdin, I headed off on a FastPass run and we got FastPasses for Buzz Lightyear for 10:15 am. On our way to Buzz Lightyear, we caught a show of Carousel of Progress. After getting out of Buzz, I headed over and got FastPasses for Space Mountain for mid-afternoon. We ate lunch at Crystal Palace (ADR's on major holidays are a real must). When we got out of CP, we headed slowly over to Space Mountain and rode Space Mountain. By that time, I headed for BTM and got FastPasses for 7:30 pm. We decided to sit down on a bench in between the main rotary and Adventureland at about 2:40 pm and....we didn't move from those benches until 12:15 am after the last fireworks. As it turned out, we probably didn't need to do that to SEE the fireworks, but to be comfortable we really needed to get our place that early believe it or not. We watched Spectromagic twice, the Cinderella shows multiple times, and the Christmas parade one or two times. We took turns taking short walks and got dinner from Cosmic Ray's and ate on the bench. The crowds were the heaviest we had EVER seen at Disney that day and it was very dicey at times in terms of crowd behavior (even without alcohol). But, we wouldn't have traded the experience for anything. We probably won't go back to MK for Xmas or New Year's (been there done that) and we did not go to any park on Christmas Day this year (which was a wonderful day and great decision--we resort hopped to see decorations and stuff), but the holidays are quite magical.

 

[dvc guy]

DOCTOR P has it right. We are DVC meembers who have hade the trip the past 7 years and are booked this year 12/27-1/1. Having the luxury of going every year we hit the best rides and by pass lots of things. Getting to the parks early is a MUST. Make your ADR's as soon as possible or you will be sitting on the ground having Pizza for the 3rd time that day. It is truly magical, and it lot of fun

 

[MinnieFan]

As long as you don't stress out about the crowds you will have a great time. WDW at Christmas time is even more magical than usual. You just have to experience it to believe it. DH and I thought that our 2005 Christmas trip would be a once in a lifetime experience, but now we're talking about going back for Christmas 2007.

 

[Frankiesmom]

Thanks to everyone for all the replies! I was thing of booking 12/22-12/29.It sounds like it would be really fun! Angel

 

[Doctor P]

Generally, that should be a good time frame to book. At least once, if you can, spend New Year's Eve at WDW. It is a really fun experience (and I don't generally stay up till midnight on NYE except at WDW, LOL) and very memorable. The fireworks shows are amazing.